Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of brownfield sites in Bolton South East constituency.

Our National Planning Policy Framework places great emphasis on the use of brownfield land and promoting effective use of land in meeting the need for homes and other uses, while safeguarding and improving the environment and ensuring safe and healthy living conditions. However, brownfield sites vary greatly, and local planning authorities are best placed to assess the suitability of each site for development.

Local planning authorities are required to prepare, maintain, and publish a register of brownfield (previously developed) land suitable for housing. For new homes, brownfield sites should be suitable, in planning terms, available for development and achievable within 15 years.